The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-04-15
HOW | BECAME GRAY.
Tied to a Railroad Track, Waiting
for Death.

All OCdIAs
Several years ago, while passing over
the PENNSYLVANIA railroad, was much
impressed by the appearance of one of
any fellow-passengers, who occupied a
scat in the same coach with me. 1t
was not that his features were in any
way striking. but the popularity about
him was in his thick, full head of snowy
white hair, standing out in abundant
kinky curls on a head the owner of
which was yet young man. not more
than thirty years of age. His features
were not remarkable in any way, with
the exception, perhaps, of a rather sad
look, which seemed to indicate that he
might have had at some time during
his life severe mental or physical
shock, the effect of which had made an
long as life.
Somehow, the thought kept recur-
ring to me: "What made his hair
white?" Somehow. could not Danish
him from my thoughts. The scenery
through which we were passing at a
high rate of speed was grand. yet I
could not enjoy it. and my eyes would
turn from the green hills and deep
gorges to gaze again at this sad-eyed
stranger with snowy hair.
do not think l am impertinent or
inqrisitive to an unusual degree, but |
confess that on this occasion laid my
self open to the charge of being both;
for left my own seat and took the va
cant one in front of him. the back of
which turned over SO that was i'm
mediately face to face with the object
of my curiosity.
After a time / made some remark in
tended to be Introductory. He replied
politely. An informal conversation
followed. Then l ventured to refer to
his white hair. Instead of showing
surprise, he evidently expected the al
fusion, and had understood why l
sought his company. He replied:
-.Your curiosity, sir, is natural. and you
must not suppose that you are the first
person who has made similar inquiry,
for am questioned almost daily as to
the cause of my hair being white, al
though l am barely twenty-eight years
of age. 1t turned from jet black to
Its present snowy whiteness in one
might.
Three years ago." he continued. 81
was in the employ of large wholesale
house in New York as travelling sales
man. and fo#nd myself in Western
.'ate at about this time of year, on one
of my business tours for the house. i
was obliged to visit small town in the
extreme western part of the State, to
attend 20 some collections.
Il was successful in collecting the
amount owing the firm, which, to-
.,cther with the sum l already had,
amounted to nearly three thousand dol
lars.
1.-The village had been greatly ex-
cited for several weeks over the depre-
stations of horse-thievcs in the neigh
borhood: and only the night before my
taken from the stables of residents of
the village. and of course many of the
people were in a high state of excite
ment Parties were out in every direc-
ton searching for the thieves and
horses, and all strangers We're looked
upon with more or less suspicion.
when l was ready for my return
trip. one of our old customers, of whom
I had Just collected large bill. and
who had again favored our house with
an order for goods. informed me that a
few miles away on the line of the rail-
road a new place was just starting. 1t
already had two stores; and he strong
~ advised me stop off there, as might
by so doing secure an order for goods.
1 thought it well to do SO.
las l stepped aboard the train, it
was Just nine o'clock in the evening.
saw the conductor and informed him
of my wish to stop at W, the name
of the new settlement. He took my
fare. at the same time saving: BE on
the platform right after you heat the
whistle: we'll slow down SO that you
can jump of. 1t is such a new place
that they have no post-office there vet,
and consequently we have no mailbag
30 leave or take on. When any one
wishes to get aboard from there, the
station master flags the train
when heard the warning whistle.
therefore, l made my way to the plat
form, and as the train came almost to
a stand-still, jumped off. As 1 did so,
the conductor called out. The depot is
about forty rods further down the track.
Keep right ahead. around the bend
yonder. and you'll come to the settle
ment in minute. We slowed down a
little too quick; fact is, we haven
stopped here often enough to know
where TO put on the brakes in order to
hit the depot right Would take you
down there, but we have to meet the
down-express at NJ, fifty miles
further up. She's due here in just three
hours, so you see we've &C. % harry
up